Northern Saw Whet Owl

For the album 'Birds in the Mountains'.
The Northern Saw-whet is a very small, short-bodied, Owl. The overly large head has no ear tufts. While these owls look small when perched in flight they appear larger because of their broad wings.
Northern Saw-whet Owls are primarily nocturnal. The Saw-whet Owl's name comes from the "skiew" call that is made when alarmed. This sound has a resemblance to the whetting of a saw.

My 'fire district' spans the mountainous Okanogan Highlands south of the Canadian Border. Over one million acres, sparsely populated. As a commanding officer I travel the district extensively, often encountering wildlife. Its one of the benefits of the job.